With every new album that Lil Wayne puts out, the "best rapper alive" conversation begins anew. Ultimately, it's a meaningless designation (or boast, depending on who said it), but like any list, a fun one to argue about nonetheless. Is it Weezy? Is it Kanye? Is it Jay-Z? Is it Missy? Is it Nas? After all, he did release the greatest rap album of all-time. Or didn't...no, I'm stopping myself from going down that road.

With I Am Not a Human Being II fresh in our minds (let's just say it's not helping Lil Wayne's cause), I took a look at tracks that include the phrase "best rapper alive," or something akin to it, to figure out, well, maybe not the best rapper alive, but at least who's doing the most justice to the phrase. Here in no particular order are the 9 best "best rapper alive" songs, one per artist, that may (or may not) make your personal preference easier to defend.

"The Best Rapper Alive" by K Dot (Kendrick Lamar)

Shit, whoo, with that said you should know I am the truth
The truth hurts you should feel pain when I'm done with this verse

"Best Rapper Alive" by Lil Wayne

The best rapper alive
The best rapper alive
The best rapper alive
The best rapper alive
Swagger right, check, game tight
And they gonna R-E-S-P-E-C-T me

"Event Horizon" by Rhyme Asylum

Living legend even if I happen to die
Cos best rapper alive will be etched on my headstone

"Dirt Off Your Shoulder" by Jay-Z

I drop that Black Album, then I back out it
As the best rapper alive, n*gga ask about me

"Unorthodox" by Joey Bada$$

I’m the chosen one, so you can expect more offerings
I be sonning n*ggas so expect less orphans
Best rapper alive hear that line used less often

"I'm on One" by Los

I’m top fivin’, you can come see why Los won
Best rapper alive, it ain't up for an option
Nobody’s close to me
I should be up for adoption

If I was you, I'd leave it alone, I kill you or suicide you
You had a choice before they flew inside you
The best rapper alive, you better ask around
I got coke and a ho with a nose like a Basset Hound

"Exhibit Based" by Lil B

And bless my heart, I'm a visionary
Speak in third person, cause it's the only one in the city
I'm the greatest rapper alive, Lil B, I'm the rawest rapper
Greatest to ever do it

How are any of these rappers on this list other than Jay-Z or Nas? Criteria needs to be given for best rapper alive. Wayne’s non-rapping ass should be 3000 miles away from this list at least. While his verse on Dre’s Topless is making me more of a fan, I don’t agree with Eminem being best for pure lyricism. BUUUUUT @johnnyhopkins definitely makes sense with his comments.

the best rapper right now is kendrick lamar. kendrick easily put out the best album of 2012. secondly, i do not understand the love affair for eminem. he is a great lyricist and very technical emcee. however, I can name at least 8 to 10 guys now that could easily outshine eminem. we can begin that list with royce da 5’9, who OWNED him on that “bad meets evil” album.

i signed up to this website to comment on this list alone…i understand that everyone is entitled to their own music choice but this is the weakest list iv ever seen…lil wayne?
if you like mainstream rap surely eminem would make number 1, kanye west etc

The BEST RAPPER ALIVE is LIL WAYNE and nobody can take that away from him. He is the first rapper who has been regarded as that. So if any pussyass people talks about rap again then THE BEST SHOULD BE MR HIP HOP WHICH IS WAYNE. #Lil RIAN THE BEST FAN OF LIL WAYNE ALIVE

Eminem is the best rapper alive, the best rapper ever and the best rapper sleep. oh yeah jay-z is better than eminem at number zero. no skill having ass nigga he was right about numbers dont lie because his numbers against eminem numbers is telling the truth on how sorry he is compared to eminem. and all this knowledged is coming from a black fan of hip hop not a white fan.

I think Eminem is the best rapper liveing at this point in time the only reason i say that is cuase theres alot of meaning when it comes to his song’s well most of them lol Eminem is just lyrically gifted. Now lil wayne is really good when it comes to them metaphores but he rap’s about the same shit all the time (Pussy,Money,Weed,Clothes,Cars,&,Jewlelry) So does alot of rappers it’s like listening to a broken record over and over again, it gets annoying and irratateing the record is about to be token of the needle and thrown away for good why becuase !!!!!RAP IS DEAD!!!!! when it comes to the main stream.